Furfural product and process of making same



Patented Oct. 20, 1925.

.IUNITE'D "ST-ATEI'TSYPATENT OFFICE.

cmmonnnms, or'non'rcI-Am, newsman, America we mnrs rosrnn collrun, A OQBIPOBA'HOK or mennsmr.

rum-can. rnonuor m r-or IAIING sum Io Drawing.

lulose ester such asnitrocelluolose or acetyl' cellulose dissolved in furfural.

Furfural is an effective solvent for nitro- .15 cellulose and dissolves acetyl cellulose-well although somewhat less readily. When such solutions or jellies are rendered acid the furfural sets to a resinous product in which the cellulose ester a pears to be dis- I solved-as a sort of solid so ution. The furfural resin by itself does not have satisfactory hysical properties for many purposes but t e presence of nitrocellulose toughens it and yields a plastic material which may be used in some cases as a substitute for celluloid.

The furfural which employ may be the commercial type containing a few er cent of water or it may be dried and re istilled.. so Derivatives of furfural such as methyl furfural and the like also may be employed in some cases.

Nitrocellulose may be employed in the form of gun cotton, soluble cotton, celluloid cotton, celluloid film including celluloid scrap, cleaned moving picture film, soluble cotton of reduced viscosity etc. Acetyl cellulose invarious forms such as the acetonesoluble variety may be employed.

-40 The setting or resinification of the furfu-' ral may be brou ht about by mineral acids such as hydrocliloric or sulphuric acids.

Phosphoric acid yields lighter colered masses which in some cases are quite uninflam- 4 mable. Organic acids such as formic, acetic, benzoic, phthalic and the like are less active in setting than the mineral acids but on the other hand they are more desirable in many This'is especially true when products cases.

are required which are to be used in contact w1th metals and the presence of SlZIOIlg-IIIIIP eral acid might cause corroslon.

Applicationill-e11 September a, 1m. Serial Io. 785,518.

As an example a 10per.cent solution of soluble cotton in furfural is treated with from lto 10' per cent of concentrated hydrochloric acid or a small amount of h drochloric acid gas is passed into the solution. The acidulated material may be poured into molds or exposed in the form of films and allowed to set and harden. At the end of a day or two a black, tough, glossy, flexible film or avtough strong cast article is obtained.

With or anic acids the reaction progresses more slowly and mild heat may be applied if desired to hasten the reaction.

Compositions made in this way using 10 per cent of strong hydrochloric acid are inflammable while those made with 10 per cent of metaphos horic acid cannot be lgnited. If a film 0 such material is placed in a Bunsen flame it chars at the oint where the flame impinges but combustion does not spread. The proportion of nitrocellulose of course may be varied to the extent desired and in some cases volatile solvents may be lpresent. Also it is possible to add the usual llers employed in the field'of plastlcs. It

should be borne in mind however that basic fillers such as chalk mayneutralize acidity and check the setting properties of the com-.

position.

I propose toemploy mixtures of this character to make articles such asbrush han-' dles and other fairly massivearticles which heretofore have been generally made from celluloid under conditions requiring a great deal of manipulation. With the present composition I ropose to make such articles simply by casting in suitable molds.

Another field of application is that of coating cloth or otherfabric or impregnatin' suitable tissue with such mixtures to obtam artificial leather. After the. reaction has been completed any free or superficial acid may be reduced in amount or elimisolutions. Impregnated cloth or paper may be pressed'together in some cases tomake composite sheets and special artlcles.

What I claim is 1. The process which comprises resinifying furfural in the presence of a. dissolved I cellulose ester.

nated by washing in water or dilute alkaline 2. The process which comprises resinifying furfural in the presence of dissolved nitrocellulose.

3. The process of making cast articles 5 which comprises dissolving nitrocellulose in iurfural and allowing the mixture in an acidulated condition to harden in suitable molds whereby castings are obtained. 7

4. A casting comprising resinified furfural and nitrocellulose in solid solution there- 10 1n.

5. A casting comprising resinified furfural and a cellulose ester in solid solution therein.

nitrocellulose hardened by an acid.

CARLETON ELLIS.

6. A product com rising furfural and 15' i 

